Antislippiutg ladder attachment



C. J. BROWN.

ANTISLIPPING LADDER ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION HLED FEB. 23, T918.

Patented May 20, 1919.

FIG. 4.

uvvwvron zyhw Arman/v52:-

CHARLES J. BROWN, 0F RIVER FALLS, WISCONSIN.

ANTISLIPPING LADDER ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 20, 1919.

Application filed February 23, 1918. Serial No. 218,874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at River Falls, in the county of St. Croix and State ofWVisconsin, have invented a new and useful Antislipping LadderAttachment, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ladders, and the Object is to provide the lowerend of a ladder with anti-skidding attachment or means which willeffectively prevent slipping of the ladder on ice-covered or frozenground and on boards used for supporting the ladder where the ground isloose or soft.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is an elevation of the lowerportion of a ladder equipped with my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlargedleft side view of the lower left corner of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View ofthe device as shown in Fig. 2 as viewed from the left and with theground calk lowered. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the metallic frame ofthe attachment.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, 5 designates the railsand 6 the rungs of a ladder. To the lower end of each rail I secure by ascrew 7 the vertical flange 8 of an angle-plate 8-9, whose horizontalflange 9 is provided with a comparatively large aperture 10 (see Fig.4). Held between the flange 9 and the bottom end or face of the rail isthe flange 11 of a rubber cushion 12, which projects downward throughand ibelow the aperture 10. The cushion is further held by a wood-screw13 passed through the middle of it and into the end of the rail 5. Thecountersinking for the head of said screw is made so large as to serveas a suction cup which will aid in holding the ladder stationary.

Formed upon the flange Sis a wedgeshaped cam or incline 14, whose lowerend forms a small upward shoulder 15 and a larger downward shoulder 16.17 is a calk pivoted on a rivet 18, which is passed through the flange-S and the rail as best shown at 19 tothe left in Fig. 3. Said calk hasa sharp point 17 and a shoulder 17".

If the ladder is to be used on ordinary ground, 20, or upon a boardcovering soft ground, but especially if placed upon a finished floor,the calk 17 may be turned upward as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 andretained in that position by forcing it more or less upon the incline14, thus leaving the ladder standing on the cushions 12, which will notinjure the floor nor slip on smooth wood work of any kind. And if theladder is placed upon frozen or ice covered ground, or upon a wetslippery supporting board the calks are turned downward to the positionshown in Figs. 1 and 3 or in dotted line in Fig. 2, with the shoulder 17engaging the shoulder 16 of the cam, whereby the calk is held firmly forengagement in the surface supporting the ladder. The shoulder 15 on thecam is designed to support the calk in its upper position in the eventthat wear and tear should make it so loose on the pivot that the incline14 will not engage and hold it by friction.

What I claim is l. A ladder attachment comprising two angular plates andmeans securing one flange of each plate in vertical position to one sideof each rail of the ladder near the bottom end thereof, the other flangeof each plate extending horizontally underneath the end of the rail, acalk pivoted on the ver tical flange and having a sharp end adapted whenin a downward position to engage in the surface that supports theladder, means on the vertical flange for retaining the calk inengagement with said surface, and means on the same flange for holdingthe calk out of such engagement.

2. The structure specified in claim 1, said means for holding the calkin engaged position consisting of a lug, and the means for holding thecalk in disengaged position consisting of an inclined cam on the flangefor the calk to engage and be held by friction against said cam.

3. The structure specified in claim 2, said cam having near its highestpoint a lug by which to positively stop the calk in case the lattershould pass the position in which it was intended to be held byfriction.

4. The structure specified in claim 1, said horizontal flange having anaperture, a rubber cushion held between said flange and the rail andhaving a portion projected down- Ward through said aperture.

5. The structure specified in claim 4, said projected portion of thecushion having a cavity acting as a'suction cup to aid in holding theladder stationary upon the surface supporting it.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES J. BROWN.

0091 of this potent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0.

